This is also possible from a smartphone, but the app is required for this. However, the device must be connected to a PC to back up photos, for example.
It's a super ingenious little box! I also had the same problem - and now you can synchronise the photos from iPhone and iPad automatically. However, all devices involved must be connected to the same WLAN. And yes - sometimes I have to "trigger" the synchronisation .... But basically worth the money!